Campaigners are today calling on the government to deny bus company Arriva the contract to run part of Greater Manchester’s ambulance service.

More than 14,000 people have signed a petition against the move, which is being handed into the Department of Health.

Campaigners are today calling on the government to deny bus company Arriva the contract to run part of Greater Manchester’s ambulance service.

More than 14,000 people have signed a petition against the move, which is being handed into the Department of Health.

From April, patients with a non-urgent appointment to attend hospital will be picked up in transport provided by the Arriva Group.

The company, which operates buses and trains, undercut the North-West Ambulance Service (Nwas) by £3.5m to win the contract after it was put out to tender.

Campaigners say they are concerned the Arriva bid will not meet the same standards as the existing NHS provider.

Shadow health secretary and Leigh MP Andy Burnham and Unison boss Dave Prentis were due to join the lobby.

The passenger service employs 374 NHS staff and provides around two million journeys a year for chemotherapy patients, disabled people, and elderly people in care homes too ill or vulnerable for public transport.

Craig Wilde, Nwas Unison branch secretary, said staff feared they were losing the service for cost reasons.

He said: “We are very disappointed in the outcome, considering we scored higher on quality than Arriva in the bid process. This is about pounds, shillings and pence.”

Senior health sources said the bids were scrutinised by clinicians, including GPs, and they looked at a number of issues, including quality, reliability and cost.

Allan Jude, director of ambulance commissioning, NHS Blackpool, who was involved in the decision, said: “It is important to understand that this is not the emergency blue light service and the staff are not front line ambulance staff and never attend 999 calls.“Ambulance staff on the Arriva contract will be fully trained in basic first aid, life support and resuscitation techniques including the administration of oxygen and lifting and handling and the service will offer patients the quality service they need.”

Most non-urgent patient transport services are run by ambulance trusts, although private firms are used in some places.

Jonathan May, UK managing director of Arriva Transport Solutions, said: “Every day across the UK we help thousands of people get to and from their hospital appointments. We are using the extensive clinical and logistical expertise we have gained over the past 30 years to prepare for the Greater Manchester non-emergency patient transport contract so we can deliver quality hospital transport for local people while making sure NHS transport funding is used to maximum benefit for patients.”

Lucy Powell MP demands a 'pre-emptive' move to axe plan

An MP is calling for ‘pre-emptive' action to stop the Arriva ambulances plan – after its service in another part of the country was slammed.

Lucy Powell, who represents Manchester Central, has written to health secretary Jeremy Hunt after the health watchdog criticised a similar service provided by Arriva in Leicestershire.

Ms Powell said: “As you may know there are widespread concerns from patients and staff in Greater Manchester particularly around the issues of quality and safety.

“These concerns are made more real by the publication of the inspection report on Ambuline Leicestershire, which by any reading can only be described as damning.

“I would like to know what action you are taking over the Leicestershire service and the implication for the contract in Manchester.

“I very much hope you will take pre-emptive action before we have to be in a position where we receive a similar report here.”

Campaigners say they are concerned the Arriva bid will not meet the same quality of the existing NHS provider.

Brian Drury from Ambuline Leicestershire said: “The inspection found no areas where enforceable action was required. The CQC highlighted certain areas which needed further improvement.

“Following the inspection we provided the CQC with a full action plan to deliver improvements which we are committed to carrying out in full – and we will maintain the improvements we have delivered going forward.”

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